Long Beach Port bridge delayed at least a year

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A new bridge project at the Port of Long Beach is already $300 million over budget, and now officials say its completion will be delayed for at least a year.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the massive $1.26 billion span that will replace the aging Gerald Desmond Bridge won't be completed until late 2017 or early 2018. It was originally slated to open by the end of 2016.

Officials say the delay has been attributed to design issues, including holdups in getting approval for certain designs from Caltrans officials, who have ultimate authority over plans.

The replacement bridge is being built under a design-build model — which means that while construction on the foundation began a couple months ago, only about 70 percent of it has been designed.